NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48
In the past, the vampires lost their queen, and all the bloodlines left by the queen departed from the world.
Having fallen to the status of a lesser race, the vampires chose to disperse across the continent in search of survival.
There was no dynasty to designate as their queen, nor an organized group to promote their revival.
Only the fate of gradually declining and disappearing into the annals of history awaited them.
Amid this, a vampire was remarkably born as the lord of the 8th ranked dungeon.
Isabella, who had settled in a cave while wandering in the forest, was designated as the new lord.
Of course, there was no legitimate legitimacy, only the selection of the dungeon core.
However, Isabella’s bloodline was of the true ancestor.
Being a true ancestor meant she had the justification to establish a new dynasty.
For the vampire race, Isabella was like a timely rain in a drought.
Once this news spread, vampires scattered throughout the continent would surely gather around Isabella.
Moreover, the dungeon was a partially unique dungeon.
Usually, dungeons produce hundreds or thousands of monsters, condensing all that power to engrave its rank.
In contrast, Isabella’s dungeon consisted merely of eight beings, including Lord Isabella.
It wasn’t a numerical disadvantage but rather the meaning of hundreds or thousands of powers being condensed into just eight.
“What should we do, sister?”
Assembling the scattered vampires to establish a new dynasty seemed right for the revival of the race.
However, Isabella thought the order was wrong.
“First, we must repay the grace of that one.”
If the dungeon core has a will, it must certainly be for the revival of our kin.
While the existence of her race was important to Isabella, repaying the grace came first.
“That’s the right command.”
“Of course!”
The seven vampires also joined Isabella’s intention.
They owed their 8th rank to that one alone.
If that one hadn’t saved Isabella, and furthermore awakened her as a true ancestor, they wouldn’t exist as they do now.
“By the way, I intend to dedicate the dungeon core to that one. But I cannot decide unilaterally. I would like to know your thoughts as well.”
Everyone shared the same sentiment about this.
The vampires of the dungeon went to seek the shrine of faith with one mind.
Leaving behind the long-awaited reunion, Isabella requested a private meeting with the boss.
When they were alone in the boss room, Isabella took out the dungeon core she had prepared.
“No. I cannot accept this.”
The response she received betrayed her expectations.
It was neither absorption of the dungeon core nor fusion. It was an absolute lord-subordinate relationship surpassing blood bonds.
With such a powerful ally entering at rank 8, the justification of the past grace should have eased the burden.
Yet, to kick it away without any hesitation—what on earth could be the reason?
‘Does it mean we are unnecessary…?’
Nothing else came to her mind.
They must have thought she was merely a hindrance and rejected her coldly.
“Isabella. What do you think about the fusion between dungeons?”
Caught off guard by this sudden question, Isabella tilted her head for a moment.
“Uh… isn’t that a relationship where we can rely on each other?”
“On the contrary.”
“Huh?”
“The very act of fusion is proof of distrust. If you can truly trust each other, a covenant would be sufficient.”
He picked up the dungeon core and returned it to Isabella’s bosom.
Then he clasped her empty hand instead of the dungeon core.
“Isabella, I trust you.”
“….”
“Then you must trust me as well.”
In an instant, Isabella’s mind was swept away.
Words she wanted to throw up didn’t come out, only shallow breaths escaped her.
Finally, she managed to form a coherent response.
“That’s right. The boss has always been like this.”
Foolishly, she realized the true nature of that one only now.
The only boss who was kind and could be blindly trusted.
Tears pooled in her eyes, causing her to blink repeatedly.
Swallowing overwhelming emotion, Isabella rubbed her reddened eyelids with her sleeve.
It wasn’t that she was trying to hide her tears; she simply felt it was too much for her to hold the gaze of such a revered one.
Isabella rationalized this and pressed her squishy eyes tightly.
A simple covenant, neither a blood bond nor a fusion.
Paradoxically, it was precisely for that reason they could truly trust each other.
Isabella once again took the boss’s hand.
“You know true ancestors live in eternal life, right?”
“I know.”
“And so do the undead.”
“Right.”
With a clearer view, she took in the sight of the boss.
Seeing him clearly, she completely understood.
“I will serve you for life.”
This one is indeed my eternal master.
***
“From now on, Isabella will be with us.”
“Kirik! Isabella has returned!”
At my words, Balutak reacted first.
Flap flap—Balutak flapped his wings and circled around Isabella.
He seems really fond of Isabella.
Estizel clapped her hands while Charlotte simply lowered her head with an expressionless face.
“Welcome, my lord.”
“Hehe. I’ll be relying on you moving forward.”
“Great Isabella, let me introduce you. This is little Isabella.”
“Eh? I’m Estizel…?”
“I’m introducing you to little Isabella. This is great Isabella.”
“Just Isabella, right?”
I can understand Balutak acting this way.
They do look quite alike.
Under Balutak’s lead, the two exchanged handshakes, and Isabella subtly ruffled Estizel’s neck.
“You said you’re half-human, half-beast?”
“Uh… right?”
“Just one bite.”
“…Huh?”
“Just one blood-suck.”
“U-uh, that sounds a bit scary…”
“Kirik. Isabella, do you want to drink Balutak’s blood?”
“Oh, that’s a bit… Estizel, right? Just one bite, no more.”
After that, Estizel let out a scream and ran away, with Isabella laughing as she chased after her.
Balutak was also following while flapping his wings.
Additionally, Helbok, who appeared at some point, was chasing after the three.
After watching that funny scene, I glanced sideways at Charlotte.
“Will it be hard to manage? Are you okay with that?”
“Yes. Just leave it to me.”
It’ll be difficult, but I’m sure she’ll handle it well.
With Isabella’s joining, we now felt more confident about conquering the ancient dungeon.
Having just Charlotte and Isabella was more than enough, and fortunately both were humanoid.
Charlotte’s demon eye could be concealed with disguise magic.
Likewise, Isabella’s red eyes and fangs could also be dealt with through disguise magic.
‘For now, let’s let them rest for today and tomorrow.’
I can’t delay their joy of reunion with any interruptions.
Unlike the earlier ordeal with Balutak, this journey seemed to be quite difficult.
Besides the distance, we had to keep their food and body temperature sustained and make sure preparations were being taken care of in bits.
The first target I had in mind was the northwestern extreme of the empire.
In a place where traces of humans had vanished, aptly named ‘Desolation’.
There lie the Tomb of the Ancient Dragons.
According to the background setting, the entities that once ruled this world thousands of years ago were dragons and giants.
The place I was heading to was the grave of the dragon that stood at the pinnacle during that era, the Tomb of the Ancient Dragons.
***
Laziness, ennui, boredom.
All life longs for eternity, but in reality, it was dull beyond belief.
Roxanne was certainly having yet another boring day, killing time.
“I’m getting tired of this now.”
Whoosh!
What Roxanne threw was the legendary sword that was passed down through the kings of the ancient Milia kingdom.
In the boss room of the 10th circle of hell, the Dragon’s lair, treasures of such worth were common.
In truth, collecting sparkling treasures was a hobby of the hatchling.
Recently, feeling too bored, she tried collecting treasures to relive old memories, but only emptiness filled her.
Currently, Roxanne was in polymorphed state.
Her true form was so huge that it was often bumped into things, and even a slight movement had tremendous repercussions.
Thus, unless there was a special situation, she maintained her polymorph all the time.
“My Lord.”
Roxanne, lying on the treasure pile, lifted her head.
She spotted a Draconian, a dragonkin, looking up at her from below.
It was Dmitri, who served as a vice-captain and guard in the 10th circle of hell.
“Did you call for me?”
Saying that, Roxanne relaxed her neck.
Thud. Her head thudded into the treasure pile.
“I have urgent news.”
“Urgent news?”
“As you know, the 8th ranked dungeon has been renewed.”
Roxanne was well aware of this information.
However, at the follow-up words, she abruptly sat up.
“…At the Shrine of Faith?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Why?”
“It appears he has claimed the dungeon as his domain.”
Roxanne’s nostrils flared.
That wretched Shrine of Faith, that wretched rank 7, that wretched singleton.
Whenever that news reached her, she always had to swallow her breath like any other time.
“What the hell is that wretch? What makes the newly ranked 8th consider itself a subordinate?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know either.”
BAM!
Roxanne’s punch sent treasures bouncing into the air.
Her sharp gaze sharpened like a sharpened arrow of death.
Her vice-captain trembled, overwhelmed by the pressure of the dragon’s fear.
Roxanne sighed deeply, shutting her eyes tightly.
As her inner menace subsided, her subordinate exhaled the breath he had been holding.
“What the hell is that wretch?”
As she muttered quietly, her gaze fell on the treasure pile.
In a fit of rage, unable to control herself, her self-hate swelled within.
“…Not even a hatchling.”
She recognized herself, overtaken by the childish and impulsive rage.
Yet she always only recognized it, never correcting it.
Roxanne’s dragon wisdom had long disappeared.
“Sigh.”
With a sigh echoing as if the earth would swallow her, she lay back down.
Covering her forehead with her hand, she recalled that event.
Although she tried to keep her mind calm, thinking about it made her grit her teeth unconsciously.
Roxanne had passed a thousand years easily with the relationship of the Seven Lairs.
So wouldn’t it make sense to defend her own interests even for that bond?
But at the meeting, the Seven Lairs all sided with Barugore.
She understood logically. During that time, she was stubborn and headstrong.
She understood it in her head, but the more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable her heart felt.
Why did everyone like that wretch so much?
“Not only did they not side with me…”
Creek. She unconsciously ground her teeth.
Everyone liked that wretch and turned their backs on her.
In truth, even when she first heard the rumors about that wretch, it was utterly loathsome.
Seeing that Hyoe killed two heroes and how proud rank 7 held his head high—all of it.
“….”
The more she thought about it, the more questions arose.
No matter how much of a singleton he was, he was still rank 7.
How is it possible for that wretch to kill her?
Though proven true by divine insight, she couldn’t shake off her doubts.
…On the other hand, she also found herself entertaining the very notion.
It had been said that he killed Balmunk in one strike without even lifting a finger.
That was an achievement Roxanne herself could never accomplish.
“Just a Death Knight.”
Even the Lich King was like a bug; how could a Death Knight be?
Maybe the very premise of that Death Knight was wrong.
Roxanne shook her head to dispel the spiraling speculations.
The more she thought about that wretch, the more it would only aggravate her anger.
“Dmitri, have there been any advancements?”
Roxanne entrusted her vice-captain with a singular task.
Yet again, the vice-captain bowed down.
“I’m sorry.”
“…Am I truly the only one?”
Dragon Lord Roxanne.
Though she once held great renown, she was now in a position where the title ‘lord’ felt unworthy.
All the dragons she had led were dead, leaving Roxanne as the last dragon alive.
There may have been a dragon hiding away in a lair, turning its back on the world.
But it had been a hundred years since she ordered her subordinates to search for kin, relying on that small hope.
Dragons possess a strong kinship. Especially in Roxanne’s case, it ran deep.
To relieve her boredom and ennui, the warmth of kin was desperately needed.
Yet, she was the only dragon remaining in the world.
Gargoyles, wyverns, dragonkin, drakes, dragon babies.
Only these remained in the 10th circle of hell.
Roxanne longed for the day when a true kin would appear.
If only it were a Bond Dragon, she could somehow relieve her loneliness.
Yet the undead Bond Dragon possesses no wisdom, and even reason has abandoned it.
What Roxanne sought was communication and mutual understanding with her kin.
The Bond Dragon, unable to speak, could never become an object of mutual sharing.
“…Bond Dragon.”
Suddenly, a thought flashed across her mind.
Death Knight Barugore is definitely not just a Death Knight.
There’s no way the dungeon core of the Seven Lairs would choose such a mere Death Knight.
It was close to impossible for a mere Death Knight to become the Lord of the Seven Lairs, irregular or not.
In terms of pure might, it was certain that Barugore was stronger than other dragons.
“Speaking of which.”
Upon reflection, Barugore possessed antlers.
Among the ancient great dragons, there existed dragons with antlers.
Naturally, questions arose.
What happens when a dragon dies in a polymorphed state?
If its form remains as is, then it would follow that the undead would appear likewise. In terms of form, it might not even be a Bond Dragon and could retain its intellect.
However, since there had been no cases to affirm that, certainty was difficult. Only speculation was possible.
After pondering briefly, Roxanne chuckled lightly.
“What a useless theory.”
How ridiculous to think that someone could be kin simply because they are strong and have horns.
Just because an undead is as strong as a dragon and has horns, does that make them all Bond Dragons?